Knights successful in Tomahawk meet

TOMAHAWK, Wis. – Norway claimed division honors and two individual titles in the Tomahawk Invitational high school wrestling tournament.

In the 17-team meet, Norway took the small-school division.

“At the end of the day we knew we competed well, with the bigger schools or the smaller schools,” said Norway Coach Nick Burklund, noting the Knights challenged for the overall title by finishing just four points behind host Tomahawk. “It was a good day of wrestling even down two of our seniors.”

Norway’s Zac DeCremer (106) and Dylan Hoffart (113) copped titles.

“We had a couple of matches that we were up on and we lost right at the end of the match,” Burklund said. “Those were big and something we need to improve on. The kids really stepped it up.”

Varsity and junior varsity wrestlers participated.

“All of our wrestlers got good mat time,” Burklund said.

Norway results and Burklund’s comments follow:

106 – Zac DeCremer pinned his way through the tournament.

113 – Dylan Hoffart also pinned his way through to first.

120 – Tim Huddleston fought back to take fifth.

126 – Donny Houle really stepped it up this weekend and took second.

138 – Cole Gonzalez, fighting the flu all week, competed very well and took second.

145 – Tanner Gonzalez, also ailing with the flu, took fourth.

152 – Cody Spade, sixth.

160 – Taylor Bonetti wrestled well for fifth.

171 – Travis Moon came up short in a very close match that kept him out of placing but still had a nice day.

195 – Jorden Neumann fought back to take fifth.

Heavyweight – Kasey Siegle did well to take sixth.

Norway also competed in the Westwood Junior Challenge, with firsts from Zac DeCremer and Dylan Hoffart; seconds from Tim Huddleston and Tyler Laurin; third from Joe Comstock, and fourths from Izaac Degenaer and Shane Brasil.

“The last two weekends we have been throwing kids in spots to pick up where we were sick or injured and they have been doing a very nice job,” Burklund said. “It’s been a good experience for them, especially the kids with little experience. It’s all about getting mat time.

“We’re still a long ways away from where we want to be but the kids are working hard and pushing each other so we are heading in the right direction.”